We examine the evolving relationship and creative tension between architects and the offsite construction sector. Moderated by Belinda Smart (Built Offsite) and the panellists were: Fraser Paxton, founder of Fraser Paxton Architects; Mario Posala, Studio Design Manger, Arkit; David Saunders, founder of architectural studio S2S Design; and John Baxter, Project Manager, SENSUM.
BELINDA: Welcome, everybody, and thanks for joining. I’d like to kick off by lighting a fuse under this conversation with a truism that’s often mentioned in the industry: that architects are reluctant to engage with the offsite construction sector. Mario,... READ MORE
The BohrHaus prefabricated solution concept from Professor James Murray-Parkes, Director of Science & Engineering at Brookfield, is based on the unique strength and impact resistance of standard freeway safety barriers, whose ‘M’ section profile, coupled with timber, creates a construction element suitable for taller buildings.
Professor McBryde, founder of Architectural Physics, has collaborated previously with Professor James Murray-Parkesand about prefabricated solution, and told Built Offsite, “Our role is to assist in designing architectural applications for Bohrhaus. It’s great to work with a system that is... READ MORE
By combining proprietary technology and offsite construction, iBUILT is rethinking how a building is designed, built and managed over time, putting developers and owners first to build better buildings in half the time with 20 percent lower construction cost
With more than US$150 million in signed contracts and an additional US$600 million of contracts in negotiation, iBUILT certainly appears to be gaining acceptance for its Fast Track offsite construction program that claims to ‘deliver full designs and drawings at a guaranteed... READ MORE
This minimalist scandi-japanese prefab home captures all the right notes; the swedes may have met their nadir.
For the equivalent of $220K (AUD) MUJI have extended their retail design expression and given it a home, and it may well be the most evolved and inviting prefab home yet. With Australian consumers love affair with all things flat-pack... READ MORE
It’s been suggested that COVID could be construction’s Uber moment. We need innovation in an industry that has long been conservative and risk averse. Construction is known to be slow to adopt new technologies, however prefab has been doing it for years.
prefabAUS is proud to reveal an exciting line up of presenters for our 2020 virtual Industry Summit. Prefab is the future of construction in this country, and join us to hear from some key professionals in the industry that can... READ MORE
Since its original construction in the 1960’s, the precast panel Mahon Pool in Maroubra has become a popular swimming location for both tourists and locals alike.
A short drive south-west of Sydney, the precast panel Mahon Pool amenities block has seen a light and inviting redevelopment from an original 1960’s public toilet block. Designed by renowned Lahznimmo architects, the redeveloped amenities block integrates both structural and... READ MORE
In the UK, the Government has set an ambitious target to build 300,000 homes annually by the mid-2020s but constraints, such as the shortage of skilled workers, mean it cannot meet that target using traditional building methods alone. Consequently, to achieve the target set, a significant proportion of homes must be built using modern methods of construction (MMC).
Perhaps the most viable option is to move construction off-site; after all, you wouldn’t dream of trying to make a quality car in the middle of a muddy field in winter and yet every year the construction industry does the... READ MORE
Demand for offsite construction + MMC and the technologies that support them, are on the rise on major global markets, while in Australia, moves to advance knowledge exchange and create industry pipeline, along with investment in “ConTech’ indicate a new chapter.
Admittedly talk can be cheap when it comes to ‘disruption’; but there are signs that the global and local markets are poised for another disruptive step change. Demand for a different way of dealing with the construction industry’s challenges is... READ MORE
Sweden is widely regarded as the home of prefabrication and a global exemplar of offsite manufacturing, leading the world in terms of the sheer number of panelised single dwelling residences, which represent over 80 per cent of the country’s housing market. The country has a long history in prefab, having been building houses in factories since the 1940’s. So what are the factors behind its success?
Among the myriad influences that have led to Sweden’s dominance of the offsite space in terms of skills, expertise and industry structure, the most frequently cited factors are the country’s abundance of slow growing, premium quality timber and its uniquely... READ MORE
Built Offsite forum looks at the offsite and the prefabricated industry and the extent to which developers are driving uptake of offsite and prefabricated solutions. Built Offsite publisher Michael Dolphin chaired the discussion and the panellists were: Chris Kakoufas, General Manager Development, Cbus Property; Damien Crough, founding director and Board Chair – prefabAUS; Nick Strongman, CEO – Sensum; Robert Pradolin, developer and founder – Housing All Australians; and Julian White, Director CBRE.*
MICHAEL: Welcome to the sixth edition of the Built Offsite Forum sponsored by Sensum. Today’s discussion is dedicated to developers and how they work within the offsite and prefabricated industry. I’d like to start with an overview of the level... READ MORE
